Funnel with supporting element having means for fitting different sized filling spouts



M. T. BENTZEN 2,5 7,75 FUNNEL WITH SUPPORTING ELEM NT HAVING MEANS FOR FITTING DIFFERENT SIZED FILLING SPOUTS Filed Oct. 21, 1946 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug; 8, 1950 I8 I I8 2441 l 0 HG. 3 I E km 21 I l8 3O l G. J 17 lwmron MAX 7.' BENTZEN ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1950 M BENTZEN T. 2,517,759 FUNNEL WITH SUPPORTING ELEMENT HAVING MEANS I T 7 .FOR FITTING DIFFERENT SIZED FILLING SPOUTS I Filed Oct. 21, 1946 asheet's-sheet 2 I/Zo 2o 49 7 "II*IIIIII //v vz/v TOR/ MAX T BEN TZE/V ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE FUNNEL wrrn sUPPQRTINGELEMENT HAV me Means FDR FITTING ,DIFFERENT SIZED FILLING SPOUTS Max T. Bentzen, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to General Mei-alware Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application October 21, 1945, Serial No. 704,544

Glaiins.

The presentinvention relates to a funnel construction which is particularly adaptable for rigid attachment to vessels with which it is to be used. The funnels herein illustrated are esfuel tanks of such units is hazardous because any spilled fuel falls upon the motor where it is likely to be ignited by the heat of the motor or the exhaust manifold. The hazard is increased when the filling is done in the field, since fuel is usually transferred by pails or cans which must be balanced in an elevated position while the fuel is poured into the fuel tank of the motor unit. Wind, unsteady conditions, the weight of the cans or pails, and insecure funnels contribute to the hazard.

In United States Patent No. 2,168,395 issued August 8, 1939, there is disclosed a funnel construction which is suitable for use where the above problem is presented. However, the funnel there disclosed is designed to fit a single sized filling spout. The filling spouts on fuel tanks for different types of tractors, automobiles and trucks may vary in size, and accordingly where the construction disclosed in the above patent is employed, it is found necessary to have an individual funnel for each size filling spout.

The present invention provides a funnel construction which makes the funnel adaptable for use on a number of different size filling spouts and accordingly a single funnel can be used for different size filling spouts and it is not necessary to have an individual funnel for each size spout.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a funnel construction adapted to be rigidly attached to a filling spout, which funnel construction is adapted to fit a plurality of filling spouts.-

This and other objects of the invention will be -more fully apparent from the following deas applied to a medium sized filling spout;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a funnel applied to a large sized filling spout; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the funnel showing bears on the first bearing surface 2|.

2 the details of the means for attaching the funnel to the filling spout;

Figure 5 is an elevation of a fragment of the funnel showing further details of the attaching means;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the type of filling spout commonly found. on automobiles, tractors and trucks, to which the present funnel construction is adapted to be attached, showing the various diameters of filling spouts which the funnel will fit;

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the shape of the funnel support and locking member at its first stage of manufacture;

Figure 8 is a sectional view in the direction of arrows 88 of Figure '7, showing the secon stage of manufacture;

Figure 9 is an elevational view, partly in sectioi, showing the third stage of manufacture; an

Figure 10 is a sectional elevational View showing the fourth stage of manufacture with the support and locking member assembled to the funnel parts.

With reference to Figure 1, the funnel comprises a frustoconical section II and a cylindrical spout section I2 which may be integral with the frustoconical section but which preferably is formed separately and suitably attached to the frustoconical section, such as by welding, rolling, soldering or the like. The junction of the spout and the frustoconical section comprises a recessed shoulder l3 which is adapted to receive a wire cloth l4 which is held in place by means of a snap ring 15.

The funnel supporting and attaching element generally designated 30 are composed of a cylindrical portion Hi from which various segments extend to form the locking fingers IT, IS and I9 and the bearing members 20 (Figure 4). As shown in Figure 4, the locking fingers I! have bearing members 20 immediately above them, whereas locking members I8 and [9 are disposed at an angle thereto. The bearing members 20 are shaped as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 to provide a plurality of step-like bearing surfaces 2|, 22 and 23.

As shown in Figure 1 wherein the funnel is attached to a small size filling spout 24, the smallest size locking fingers I! bear under the inturned cam edge 25 of the filling spout. At the same time the upper edge of the filling spout As will be evident fromthe filling spout shown in Figure 6,

the funnel is attached to the filling spout by passi cylindrical opening 32.

ing locking fingers l1 down through openings 26 in the upper lip of the filling spout, after which the entire funnel is rotated until the locking fingers bear beneath the inturned cam edge 25 and rotation of the funnel brings the top of the filling spout to bear on the bearing surface 2| of the funnel and the funnel is accordingly rigidly fastened to the filling spout.

In Figure 2 a medium size filling spout is illustrated, generally designated 24a having an inturned cam edge 25a. This cam edge 25a of the filling spout cooperates with looking fingers l8 of the funnel and bearing surface 22 to attach the funnel to the filling spout in much the same manner as that of Figure 1 when the funnel is set in place and rotated.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a large size filling spout generally indicated at 241) and having an inturned cam edge 25?) which cooperates with looking fingers 19 of the funnel and bearing surfacep23 toattach the funnel tothe spout when the funnel is inserted in the spout and turned.

The attaching means may: be. fastened to. the funnel in any sui-tablemanner; Thus, the-cylindrical section is may be suitably fastenedby-riveting, soldering, welding and thelike to theadjacent spout portion -l2. Likewise, the bearing members 20 -may be fastened near their upper portions to the correspondingirustoconical section I l in any of the above ways.

Figure 5 illustrates in a singlefigure the various lockingfingers and'the bearing surfaces and their relative positions.- From this figureitowill be seen that looking fingers wand l9 extend outwardly approximately. atthe level of bearingareasl i'and 22 and thus do not interfere with the'operation of the device in any sized filling spout.

The attaching means may bevery easily. made from a piece of tubing which is partiallyslit longitudinally to form the segments from which: thelockingfingers l1, l8. and Lens well as the bearing members were formed.- These. various looking fingers and bearing members may be suitably shaped by bending the segments outwardly and then stamping or by other suitable opera-.

. generally designated 38 may bemade-very easily by stamping from .flat. steel.

The. metal is first blanked out bypunohingto-the shapeshown in Figure '7.

i2? and i 9,'and thesupport portionslfi which are later-formedto providestep seats 2!, 22 and 23are also flat. Figuredillustratesthe next step, wherein fingers l8 are. bent down, the remainder of the blankbeing. still flat. The-third step is shownin Figure 9, wherein the. central aperture Siisdrawn downtocylindrical-shape at 32. At

thisstage lockingufingers I! are apart of the members 29 are bent to present-theistep seats: 2 l 22 and 23 and locking fingers ii! and 19 are formed to their final position. In. the next drawingoperation, the-locking'fingers H are bent out to the positions shown in Figure 10,.and the unit Siioan then be assembledto the spout section 12 and. the

funnel section I i. Note .that the spout has. an outwardly rolledbeading at 33 whichserves. to

; locateit accurately inlthe cylindrical. opening. 32

Qithfi membertflv The. tunnel part 1 i has an, in.

In this stage the lockingfingers, which. are .still rudimentary and flat, are. shown at H,

Also, in this operation tegral end flange 34 which slips into the upper end of spout i2, and at the same time the outer surface of the conical part II bears against the upper ends of fingers 29. The assembly is then spot welded at 35 and is consequently firmly held together. Then the entire unit is cleaned and galvanized, the zinc of the galvanizing process serving additionally to hold the assembled parts into a unitary whole which has great strength and ruggedness.

As will be apparent from Figures 1 to 3, there is ample opportunity for escape of air or vapors from the container being filled through the openings 26 in the upper lip of the filling spout as well as through the spaces between the bearing members 20.

It will be apparent from the above description that the present invention provides a funnel construction having means for adapting it to a plurality of filling spout sizes and makes possible the use of a singlefunnel to file a variety of. different filling spouts. While variousmodificationsof the invention have been described,-it.wi1l be apparent that othermodificationsare possible without departing-from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A funnel. construction comprising. a conical section joined with a spoutsection, anexternal supporting member rigidly attached on the outsideof said sections adjacent their junction, said supporting member beingformed with a plurality of bearing areas-of varied transverse dimension at different levels and outwardly protruding looking fingers .ofi correspondingly varied transverse dimensionin spaced relationbelow each bearing area level. i

2. Aiunnel. construction-for use upon fluid receiving fuel tankfillernecks of varying diameter comprisinga. conical section joined to a spout section, a funnel support at the junction ofsaid sections and on theaouter surface thereof. comprising. a plurality ofstep-like members in spaced relation around the funnel, the-steps of saidmembers forming bearing areas at successively higher levels and: of increased radial dimension for-restingupon-filler-necksof increased diameter, and outwardly protruding. locking fingers of 1 correspondingly varied transversedimension-in spaced relation below each bearing area level.

3. A funnel'construction comprising an assembly of a conical section and: aspout section, anexternal memberdisposed outsideiof said assembly'adjacent the junction of said sections, said external member comprising a cylindrical portion surrounding said spoutsection, a plurality of bearing fingers extending. upwardly and outwardly fromsaid cylindrical portion and eachof said fingers having a plurality ofistep-like bearing areas, and a pluralityof locking fingers extending outwardly from said cylindrical .portion.-

4. A funnel construction comprising an assembly of a conical section and a spout section, an externalemember disposed outsideot said assembly adjacent-the junctionof said sections, said external member comprising. a cylindrical portion surrounding saidspout section; a plurality. of bearing fingers... extending upwardly and' outwardly fromsaid-cylindrical portion, each ofsaid fingers having; a plurality of step like bearing areas including a -lowest area,@at least onerintermediate area and a highest area, and aplurality of sets of. locking. r fingers extending outwardly from said external member. including a lowest set of lockingfingers extending outwardlyefromthe 5 bottom of the cylindrical portion, an intermediate set of locking fingers extending outwardly at about the lowest bearing areas level and the highest set of locking fingers extending outwardly at the bearing area level next below the highest 5 bearing area level.

5. The funnel construction according to claim 4 in which the locking fingers of the sets of locking fingers other than the lowest locking fingers are disposed between the bearing areas.

MAX T. BENTZEN'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,868,389 Howard July 19, 1932 2,168,395 Damkroger Aug. 8, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,477 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1912 

